"Merlin, what did you do now?" Arthur asked, seeing his manservant standing next to his father, already thinking of a way to get him out of whatever trouble he's got himself into.
The bow frowns back at him.
"Why do you assume I did something?" He retorts, crossing his arms.
Hunith, whom he has only just noticed was standing next to the wall, exchanged an amused look with his father and Arthur looks between the two.
"Arthur, I have something of importance to tell you, and they are here because it pertains them as well," Uther explains.
The prince cannot think of anything his father would have in common with Merlin and his mother of all people.
The king opens and closes his mouth a few times but does not manage to think of a way to break the news, his words failing him as he tries to think of a way to explain their current situation.
"Would you rather I explain, Sire?" Hunith approaches them, smiling kindly "I believe it would be better for me to explain myself from the beginning"
"Please, Hunith" The king seems relieved and his son is surprised at the gentleness in his voice.
"Why don't we all take a seat?" She suggests.
They were at a more informal room with comfortable-looking chairs and Merlin did not hesitate to sit right next to his mother as they did so, the king soon followed and Arthur was not behind.
"I should begin by telling you that this is not the first time I've been in these rooms" Hunith starts "I was merely fifteen summers when my parents were murdered." Merlin takes her hand and she sends him a reassuring smile before continuing "Gaius and I were close friends, though he was older than me and used to call me his annoying little sister. He and his family were happy to take me in once that happened, but they were very poor and could not provide for one more mouth. It took it upon myself to search for a job in the city and that's when I met my salvation" She glanced at Uther, who held a nostalgic expression "Queen Ygraine was buying from the market and heard me asking for a job and being unsuccessful. I think she took pity on me and offered me a job in the castle"
"You knew my mother," Arthur concludes.
"Yes, I did. You remind me of her very much," Hunith said looking at him "She was also brave and never hesitated to come to aid of whoever needed it. She insisted I learn how to read and write well so I could be eligible to other jobs as well, but I was happy to stay as her maidservant"
"She just wanted you to write her speeches" Uther chimes in, surprising all in the room and drawing their eyes to him "She always knew what to say, but I insisted she put it in writing just to be sure. She did not like that"
"That is true" Hunith chuckles, remembering all of her friend's complaints about her husband. Always fond, but complaints nonetheless "She taught me many things, I grew up in the castle and became very close to her, along with others"
"I'm sure that is a lovely story, but I fail to see the relevance" Arthur said, politely but with a trace of impatience.
"I see you've inherited your father's impatience," She chastised and Arthur felt his cheeks burn, not used to being so openly reprimanded. He glanced at his father, but saw nothing that indicated he disagreed with the woman. "At that time, you were not born yet. Uther and Ygraine were trying for an heir, but soon they discovered she was barren. Wanting a solution, your father turned to the Court Sorceress at the time: Nimueh"
Merlin and Uther flinched at the name, the first more openly.
"She, as a friend, offered to help, but it came at a price," Hunith continued, stressing the last words.
"A price I disregarded as unimportant at the time," Uther adds mournfully
"But I'd heard their conversation, always one to sneak around" She draws some chuckles at that "And brought it to Ygraine's attention. She and I spoke to Nimueh, the high priestess had no idea of the price, but the queen knew better. I begged her not to agree, least she be right, but there was no talking to her once she set her mind on something"
Uther listens quietly, never knowing quite how his wife came to know his plans.
"When you were born, I was in the room. She lived long enough to hold you in her arms, tell your father that she knew and was happy to give her life for yours, before passing" She lowers her head for a moment, the memory being a painful one. "I was charged with your care while Uther took care of… other things," She sounds disapproving.
If the king disapproves of the informal treatment, Arthur cannot tell.
Arthur thinks of his oldest memories and blinks the surprise away from his face.
"I think I remember you," He says quietly "Just a few glimpses, maybe I was too young"
"Well, you were quite the troublemaker even then" Hunith says with humor, but soon becomes serious again. "During that time, me and your father grew quite close" She looks at Uther "It happened gradually, but a close to a year later we shared a bed" the implication of that makes Arthur widen his eyes "A few months later, I found out I was pregnant. It could be no one else's"
"Wait" Arthur exclaims "I-I have a sibling? Why are you telling me this now?"
"Because I only came to know about it three days ago" Uther cuts in "And we decided it would be best for you to know"
"You didn't tell my father you were with child" Arthur deduced
"No, I did not" She has the decency to look ashamed for a moment "I feared for my child's life as well as my own"
"He would never harm you!" Arthur almost got up, but Uther placed a hand on his shoulder pulling him back to his seat.
"I know that" Hunith says softly "But his actions gathered many enemies and eradicated the source to fight those enemies. How can one expect to hunt and kill those with magic and have them not fight back?"
Uther's expression is more pained than angry at that declaration.
"But magic is evil" Arthur repeats the phrase deeply ingrained into him since birth.
"I will not entertain that discussion at this moment," Hunith said with a final tone "The point is that sorcerers attack with magic, and magic is needed to fight back. Since the ones with magical ability were killed in Camelot, no sorcerer would stand by Camelot's side, I feared for its fall and the king and those close to him were always under threat and constant danger. Even as his mistress, I would have no hope of being spared, not that I'd wish that life for me"
Uther averts his gaze, focusing on observing Arthur's reaction.
"When I heard you'd tricked Balinor into calling the Great Dragon then threw him on the dungeons, I knew I had to go" She said this directly at Uther "I gathered my things, drugged the guards, stole the keys and fled with his help. He knew the child was yours, but no one else"
"You were the one that freed him" Uther clenched his fists shortly before loosening it and sighing, "It was an interesting coincidence, but I didn't think you could betray me like that"
"You betrayed him first the moment you ordered your closest friend to be executed" Hunith stood her ground and Merlin tightened his hold on her hand. She takes a deep breath before continuing, "Yes, I freed him and fled. He stayed with me until my son was born, but had to flee once the knights heard of where we were staying"
"So I have a brother" Arthur interrupted, and Merlin almost asked if he was daft for not realizing what the conversation was about.
"Yes" Hunith agreed patiently "Merlin is technically your half-brother"
Yes, I'm stalling on Arthur's reaction because frankly I don't know what to do, but I hope you guys like this chapter.
Hopefully something will come to me by the time I'm writing the next one, feel free to make suggestions.